The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20,1874.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1757, 20 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20,1874.

His Wobship tho Mayor has, in compliance with a requiiition, called a meeting of the inhabitants for to-morrow evening to consider the proposals for abolishing the North Island Provinces. We believe the feeling of the Thames to be generally favorable, and we have no doubt that it would be unanimous in favor of Mi*. Vogel's resolutions if it were thought that the total demolition of provincial institutions would follow in due course. But there is a feeling that the North Island will be weakened by resigning the powers of Go- , vernment to a central body. Although this is an aspect of the question scarcely requiring consideration in the present , stage of the movement it may safely be

said that the abolition of Provincialism would prove a tower of strength to the t North' Island instead of a source of weakness. Assuming the North Island to bo one consolidated Province with her present representation in the Assembly—or an additional representative or two, to be granted ,—it nrustor should follow, as a matter of course, that those representatives would favor Centralism, and do all in their power to abolish Provincialism; and their influence, backed by the votes of Southern members who have for years conscientiously advocated the abolition of Provinces, would very soon bring about the consummation »o much wished, namely, annihilation of petty provincial parliaments,- multiplicity of legislation, and the generaldissatisfaction at the unfair distribution of Provincial revenue, and the subtitution therefor of a liberal and comprehensive form of local governments, in districts, shires, counties, or other divisions regulated according to circumstances, with all the pewers of Provincialism (except the legislative) compressed into a simple and inexpensive form. As we have said before it would have been preferable to have seen the resolution! accompanied by some sketch of the system proposed to be substituted for Provincialism; but as that has not been done the best course a public meeting can adopt is to pass a resolution approving the principle of the Premier's proposals. The proposals, if passed, cannot be given effect to until next session ; and in the case of a community like the Thames, which has everything to gain and nothing to lose by the abolition of the Provinces, we hope to see a unanimous approval accorded. It must not be overlooked that a year or so must elapse before any Bill can be passed to carry out the resolutions ; and should the provisions of the Bill bo unsatisfactory, there will be plenty of time to protest without stultifying any opinion that may be expressed on the principle of abolition. Careful readers will note that tlje opinions of the Southern press are favorable to the first advances towards centralism; some of them would even now hail with satisfaction an extension of the principle to the Middle Island. The only difficulty that stands is the way appears to be the possibility of a powerful Government absorbing the land fund. That being assured to be revenue available for local expenditure, a great deal of the opposition will be withdrawn. The subject is one that -ouglvt-±o4>o-ooneidored- jw!iiliou<!-x«3pecfc-jta-personal considerations or predilections. If there was no argument to be adduced in favor of doing away with Provincialism other than the expense which so many petty Governments involve, that alone ought to seal its death warrant. We t would suggest that the meeting to-mor-row night confine itself to one resolution, similar to the first one passed at the meeting in Wellington, and something to the following effect:— "That, we the inhabitants of the Thames, in public meeting assembled, [hail with satisfaction the proposals of the Premier to abolish the Provincial form of Government in the North Island as the first step towards the consolidation of the Islands of New Zealand, and the absorption of the various Provinces, under one Central Government." The question of making the principle; ah election cry—-which it will no doubt become if a general election should, follow—may fairly be left over for a time. Whatever strength to the Ministry, or advantage to ourselves, may be gained; by affirming the abolition principle can be only attained by unanimity, which we hope to see prevailing at the meeting to-morrow. .